There has been a transformation in family structure in Thailand due to the
changes in economic and social structures over time. Though not recorded in census data
the rise in single-parent families can be expected due to a rise in divorce rates, that have
been recorded, over the past decades. However, the literature on single-parent families is
limited and little is known about the experiences of single-mothers and children of singlemother
families in Thailand. This study examines the factors that have major impacts on
the well-being of children of single-parent families in Bangkok, Thailand.
A qualitative methodology was employed to study the lived experiences from the
point of views of 20 divorced single-mothers and 20 adult children from a different
sample of divorced single-mother families in Bangkok, Thailand. Altogether 40 semistructured
interviews were conducted in Bangkok, Thailand during June and July of
2010. Three theoretical frameworks, including family and household decision making
theories, the life-course perspective, and the family composition perspective were
applicable in this study to provide an understanding of how economic and social
structures play an important role in the dissolution of marriages and how family
composition plays an important role in the well-being of children.
The findings of this study shed light on the lived experiences of participants and
revealed the important factors that influence the well-being of children of single-mother
families. The major factors include financial resources, parenting styles and discipline,
and social supports. In addition, this study has implications for developing programs to
assist and facilitate the well-being of single-parent families, strengthening the
relationship within extended families, and eradicating the negative assumptions that are
often associated with single-parent families.